Turning cold into gold
寒地生金
Ice and snow are driving tourism growth in Jilin as the province leverages its winter resources to boost local economy
推动“冷资源”加速转化为“热产业”，吉林持续激活冰雪经济新动能
A horse-drawn sleigh carrying tourists glides through the pristine, snow-covered woods and the expansive snowfields, its hooves leaving a trail of prints across the untouched white.
一辆载着游客的马拉雪橇，穿行在银装素裹的原始林海与无垠雪原之上，马蹄在洁白无瑕的雪地上踏出一串清晰的印记。
Skiers enjoy the snow at the Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin city, Jilin province. [Photo provided to China Daily]
滑雪爱好者在吉林省吉林市北大湖滑雪度假区畅享雪趣
"I'm overwhelmed by this magical snow world. You can rarely see such magnificent winter landscapes, and this kind of beauty is reserved for the extreme cold," says tourist Lin Yi from Beijing, who traveled with her family to the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin province during the Spring Festival holiday.
In Erdaobaihe town at the foot of Changbai Mountain, she enjoyed winter sports like driving an off-road vehicle in the snow, and soaking in the hotel's outdoor hot spring while admiring the snow scenery.
Also, it's the first time her 4-year-old son has seen a kang (heated brick bed) and he finds it fascinating. The traditional firewood-heated kang is now electrically heated.
“我完全被这片梦幻的冰雪世界震撼了。这般壮美的冬日盛景实属罕见，这份极致之美，唯有严寒才能孕育”，来自北京的游客林艺在春节假期与家人一同来到吉林省延边朝鲜族自治州，她由衷地赞叹。
在长白山脚下的二道白河镇，林艺体验了雪地越野，还在酒店的室外温泉中，一边泡汤一边欣赏漫天飞雪。
这也是她4岁的儿子第一次见到火炕，孩子对此充满好奇。这种传统烧柴火的土炕，如今已升级为电加热模式。
Such experiences have drawn waves of tourists to Jilin, fueling robust growth in the province's tourism industry.
这般独特的体验，吸引着一批又一批游客奔赴吉林，为当地旅游产业注入强劲动能。
In 2025, Jilin province hosted 467 million domestic tourist visits, marking a 20.7 percent year-on-year growth. During the Spring Festival holiday, the province received 34.63 million tourist visits, with total tourism expenditure of 42.1 billion yuan ($6.11 billion), an increase of 26.9 percent and 24.9 percent year-on-year respectively.
2025年，吉林省接待国内游客4.67亿人次，同比增长20.7%。春节假期期间，全省共接待游客3463万人次，旅游总收入421亿元（约61.1亿美元），同比分别增长26.9%和24.9%。
Vasaloppet China, a long-distance cross-country skiing race originating in Sweden over 100 years ago, has been held annually in Changchun, Jilin, since 2003. [Photo provided to China Daily]
源自瑞典、拥有百年历史的超长距离越野滑雪赛事——中国长春瓦萨国际滑雪节，自2003年起便落户吉林长春，年年如约举办
In recent years, Jilin province has taken the development of its ice and snow industry seriously, treating the sector as a key engine for high-quality economic development.
近年来，吉林省高度重视冰雪产业发展，将其作为推动经济高质量发展的重要引擎。
"We're promoting the development of the ice and snow economy in terms of industrial policies, product supply, cultural empowerment and service support," says Sun Guangzhi, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and head of the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. She is attending the fourth session of the 14th NPC held from March 5 to 12 in Beijing.
第十四届全国人大代表、吉林省文化和旅游厅厅长孙光芝正在出席3月5日至12日在北京召开的十四届全国人大四次会议，她表示：“我们从产业政策、产品供给、文化赋能、服务保障等多方面发力，推动冰雪经济发展。”
The province has issued plans and implementation guidelines for the high-quality development of the ice and snow industry. An ice and snow economic fund for Jilin province with a total scale of 500 million yuan was established in 2025. Running from late December 2025 through the end of March 2026, the province issues ice and snow consumer vouchers totaling 1 million yuan.
In December 2025, the province launched a five-day ice and snow holiday for primary and junior secondary schools, offering them free entry to designated ice and snow venues.
吉林省出台了冰雪产业高质量发展规划及实施细则。2025年，总规模5亿元的吉林省冰雪经济发展基金正式设立。2025年12月下旬至2026年3月底，全省发放总计100万元的冰雪消费券。
2025年12月，吉林省为中小学设立了为期5天的冰雪假期，指定冰雪场所向学生免费开放。
"Together, these efforts have greatly increased consumption related to admission tickets, accommodation, catering, leisure and entertainment,"Sun says.
According to her, the province has a unique portfolio of winter products that includes skiing, excursions, hot springs, and winter fishing, with five national ski resorts offering diverse experiences.
"We have integrated winter fishing, Spring Festival traditions and intangible cultural heritage into ice and snow activities and products. Each year, we host colorful events such as the ceremony to mark the beginning of the new snow season, Jilin International Ice and Snow Tourism Industry Exposition and the Chagan Lake Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival, creating a rich winter cultural atmosphere," she says.
“一系列举措，有力带动了门票、住宿、餐饮、休闲娱乐等全链条消费增长。”孙光芝表示。
她介绍，吉林打造了滑雪、观光、温泉、冬捕等独具特色的冬季旅游产品，拥有5家国家级滑雪度假区，可满足多样化体验需求。
“我们将冬捕、春节民俗、非物质文化遗产融入冰雪活动与产品之中。每年举办新雪季开板仪式、吉林国际冰雪旅游产业博览会、查干湖冰雪渔猎文化旅游节等丰富多彩的活动，营造浓郁的冬日文化氛围。”
In 2025, the Shenyang-Baihe section of the high-speed railway opened, significantly shortening the travel time from Beijing to the area around Changbai Mountain.
The Jilin province section of the G331 National Highway also opened to traffic last year, linking lakes, mountains and scenic spots and bringing vitality to the border regions.
2025年，沈白高铁沈阳至白河段通车，大幅缩短了北京至长白山区域的通行时间。
G331吉林段也于去年全线贯通，串联起江河湖泊、群山峻岭与风景名胜，为边境地区发展注入新活力。
Sun adds that the province launched 388 customized passenger routes to ensure convenient travel for tourists during the snow season, set up temporary medical stations at ski resorts, and established an advanced compensation mechanism for tourism disputes in some areas.
孙光芝还介绍，雪季期间，吉林省开通388条定制客运线路保障游客出行，在滑雪度假区设立临时医疗点，部分地区还建立了旅游纠纷先行赔付机制。
Among the tourism highlights of the G331 National Highway is Changbai Korean autonomous county, Baishan city, with the zigzagging Yalu River, stunning winter views, and the culture of the Korean ethnic group.
G331沿线的旅游亮点之一，便是吉林省白山市长白朝鲜族自治县。这里有蜿蜒曲折的鸭绿江、惊艳绝伦的冬日风光，还有浓郁的朝鲜族风情。
Changchun Ice and Snow World is a seasonal theme park that attracts tourists with ice sculptures depicting landmarks from across the country, and a 520-meter ice slide. [Photo provided to China Daily]
长春冰雪新天地是一座季节性主题乐园，园内矗立着复刻全国各地地标的冰雕建筑，还有一条520米长的冰滑梯，吸引着八方游客
"Accessibility has brought great opportunities for developing our county's tourism," says Han Yongzhe, a deputy to the 14th NPC and the county head.
To attract more tourists this year, the county plans to hold promotional events in major cities along the high-speed rail line and key tourist markets, organize colorful cultural and tourism activities and roll out preferential policies.
"Leveraging our rich ecological and cultural resources, we will strengthen cooperation with the Changbai Mountain area and surrounding counties to develop integrated travel routes and distinctive tourism products," he says.
He says the county is focusing on developing good-quality minsu (Chinese-style bed-and-breakfast establishments), promoting local customs, improving infrastructure such as signage, rest areas for tourists, medical stations and parking lots, and upgrading tourist service centers.
“交通的便利，为我县旅游发展带来了巨大机遇。”第十四届全国人大代表、长白朝鲜族自治县县长韩永哲说。
为吸引更多游客，长白县今年计划在高铁沿线重点城市及核心客源市场开展推介活动，举办特色文旅活动，并推出优惠政策。
“依托得天独厚的生态与文化资源，我们将加强与长白山区域及周边县（市）合作，打造一体化旅游线路和特色产品。”
他表示，长白正着力打造高品质民宿，弘扬民俗文化，完善标识标牌、游客休息区、医疗点、停车场等基础设施，升级游客服务中心。
Jilin province is now sparing no effort to prepare for the 33rd FISU Winter World University Games, which will be held in January 2027 in Changchun, the main venue, and Jilin city, the secondary venue.
目前，吉林省正全力筹备第33届世界大学生冬季运动会。赛事将于2027年1月举办，长春市为主办城市，吉林市为协办城市。
Deputy Sun adds that Jilin province is taking this opportunity to comprehensively upgrade its ice and snow industry, turning "cold resources" into a "hot economy", while establishing itself as a world-class ice and snow destination.
"In the lead-up to the games, Jilin province is striving to enhance tourism convenience for overseas visitors," she says.
孙光芝表示，吉林正以此为契机，全面升级冰雪产业，把“冷资源”转化为“热经济”，全力打造世界级冰雪旅游目的地。
“在大运会筹备期间，吉林省正着力提升境外游客的出行便利度。”
The province will help and encourage the major cultural and tourist sites to improve their services such as multilingual signage, tour commentaries, and payments, thereby improving overseas visitors' satisfaction and overall experiences.
全省将推动重点文旅场所完善多语种标识、导游讲解、支付方式等服务，以此提升境外游客的满意度与体验感。
